Bus rack for publications



Dec. 30, 1952 J. 1. HOOVER BUS RACK FOR PUBLICATIONS Filed Aug. 25, 1950 dose 0h Hoover IN V EN TOR. W2. 6. M

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUS RACK FOR PUBLICATIONS Joseph I. Hoover, Houston, Tex. Application August 25, 1950, Serial No. 181,411

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bus rack for publi cations which is adapted to fit into the inner curved top portions of a bus top to contain publications therein and to receive the coins paid "therefor by bus passengers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rack for publications which is adapted to fit the inner curved top portion of a bus so that the publications may be taken therefrom by the bus passengers and so that the coins paid for the publications may be received by a locked coin receptacle.

The curved inner portion of bus tops above the rack which receives hats and luggage is adapted presently to have display advertisement posters fitted thereagainst. Bus companies usually rent the space against which the advertisement material is placed at so much per unit area. Longitudinal strips of metal extend horizontally along this top portion and provide downwardly and upwardly extending flanges at the top and bottom respectively of this display area.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bus rack of the class described which has strip when the specification is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking downwardly and at one end of the rack as seen from a position centrally of the bus.

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section through the receptacle and through the bus top.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1 the rack I has a front plate 2, end plates 3, a bottom plate 5, a back flange 5, a re-enforcing top back strip 6, and a vertical back strip l. The back flange 5 fits into a horizontally extending member II which is provided substantially at the topof the bus luggage rack, not shown, and which is connected to the curved inner top surface If of the bus by means of the spacer strip hi to form a flange socket. The vertical back strip 1 is connected to the flange 5 centrally thereof and to the re-enforcing top back strip 6 centrally thereof, and extends upwardly 2 to fit into a horizontally extending strip l5 which forms a flange socket above the rack I, such strip l5 being connected to the bus surface I 2 by means of the spacer strip 16.

A coin receptacle 2!! may be installed on an end 3 of the rack by inserting the feet 2| into slots 22 in the rack end. This receptacle includes a front plate 23 and side plates 24 to which the feet 2| are connected. 7

A top '25 is fitted upon the ends of the front and side plates and this top 25 has a slot 26 therein through which the'appropriate coins may be inserted. A bottom plate 21 is connected to the side plates 24 so as to leave a slot 23 between the front plate 23 and the bottom plate .271. A flange 3| is connected to the front plate 23 and centrally thereof and this flange has the hole 32 therein to receive a lock. The lock also passes through a hole 33 in a removable plate 35 which is inserted through the slot 28.

When the lock 36 is unlocked and removed the plate 35 may be pulled out and coins may be taken out through the slot 28. Optionally, the feet 2| may be manually straightened out so that the whole box may be removed from the end 3. Any number of coin receptacles may be provided and this invention is not limited to any preferred type as any suitable receptacle may serve, as long as it may be locked.

The publications to to be displayed are inserted within the rack I and usually are of a height, either as books, magazines, or as folded newspapers or other publications, to extend above the top of the rack 50 that the titles or identifying prints thereon may be visible. The publications are of sufficient flexibility so that the tops thereof may extend inwardly towards the aisle of the bus as required by the curvature of the top surface. The fact that the bottom plate extends from the back flange downwardly toward the front compensates to a degree for the arcuate configuration of the bus top so that at least with the shorter publications those in the rear are substantially parallel to those in the front.

The rack may be made of sheet metal, plastic, or of any suitable material as wire mesh and preferably the vertical strip 1 can be of a heavier gauge as this is the member which withstands the most stresses. The back flange 5 may also be of a material to withstand the usage to which it is put in the flange I I.

A rack of this type may be provided in sections so as to provide more than one bin of the same size or a plurality of bins of different sizes. Unless the publications displayed in the bin are sold for the same price, a plurality of coin receptacles may be provided in conformity with the different prices charged for various magazines in a plurality of bins.

It has been found by experimentation that the displaying of publications in buses stimulates the sales thereof and the fact that the coin receptacles are in full view of the bus passengers, as well as the person who may be taking a publication, causes such person to honestly place a coin in the receptacle and minimizes dishonesty. Observations over an extended sales period show that less than two per cent (2%) of the publications taken from such racks were not paid for. The operator installing racks is thus assured an income from the sale of the publications placed therein and such income can be assured when the loss from dishonesty is minimized.

Broadly, this invention considers a bus rack for publications equipped with a coin receptacle ;;so:,that*the racks may be fitted into the display area .of the curved inner toprportion of buses.

Whatisclaimed is:

1. A rack for publications displayed on a bus having a top of arcuate cross-section and having inside-thereof ahorizontally extending, upwardly opening flange socket and a horizontally extending, downwardly opening flange socket thereabove on the curved bus top portion, said rack including adjoinedfront, bottom, and side members, .a backffiange extending downwardly from *said bottom flange intot'said lower socket, a top, back strip extending between said members, and :a vertical back strip extending centrally from said back flange to said top back strip and thereabove-to fit into said upper socket,

2. A rack for publications displayed on a, bus having a top of arcuate cross-section and having inside thereof a horizontally extending, up-

wardly opening flange socket and a horizontally A extending, downwardly opening flange socket thereabove on the curved bus top portion, said rack including adjoined front, bottom, and side members, aback flange extending downwardly from said bottom flange into said lower socket, a .top, back strip extending between said members,

rack including adjoined front, bottom, and side :members, a back flange extending downwardly from said bottom flange into said lower socket, a top, back strip extending between side members, and a vertical back strip extending centrally from said back flange to said top back strip and thereabove to flt into said upper socket, said bottom member being sloped downwardly toward the front topermit publications displayed at the rear of the rack to extendsubstantially vertically parallel to those displayed at the front.

4. A rack comprising, adjoined front, side, and bottom members, a back flange extending downwardly from said bottom member, a top back strip extending between said sidemembers, and a vertical back strip extending centrally from said back flange to said top back strip and thereabove.

JOSEPH I. HOOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,020,351 Hill Mar. 12,1912 1,412,253 Mercer Apr. 11, 1922 1,743,986 Thompson Jan. 14, 1930 1,779,182 McEwen Oct. 21, 1930 1,835,037 Gillum Dec. 8, 1931 2,117,545 DeMinico May1l7, 1938 2,296,700 Branstatter Sept. .22, 19.42 2,550,796 Francis May 1, 1951 

